Rugby:Wales star Gavin Henson knows that his World Cup ambition hangs by a thread. He admitted: "I need to do something pretty special."

Wales coach Warren Gatland’s preferred midfield pairing appears to be Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies, while Scarlets youngster Scott Williams has impressed greatly in training and when he featured as a replacement at Twickenham last weekend.

Henson is expected to be handed a chance at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday in what would be only his second Wales appearance since March 2009. And having never played in a World Cup — he was overlooked eight years ago, and then ruled out by injury ahead of the 2007 tournament in France — the 29-year-old former Ospreys, Saracens and Toulon centre knows what is at stake.

After the return fixture against England, Wales host Argentina on August 20th, before Gatland unveils his Wellington-bound party just 48 hours later. Henson admitted: “There is huge competition for places, and I just hope I get a chance in one of these games.

“There are definitely three centres there at the moment, so I need to do something pretty special if I get the chance. It is about taking your chance and trying to get involved in this World Cup.

I’ve never been to one, so it’s huge for me. It would probably be one of the biggest achievements of my rugby career if I manage to do it. I missed out on the last two, and that still hurts.”

Henson took a full part during Wales’ punishing training camps at the Olympic sports village in Spala, Poland last month and there are no issues whatsoever with his fitness, despite minimal game time this year.

After numerous injury setbacks that prompted a long self-imposed exile from rugby which only ended last Christmas, the double Six Nations Grand Slam winner is ready to state his World Cup case. “I really have missed it, being involved with Wales. It has been awesome, the fitness training has been tough but we have all got through it and I hope it pays dividends. I am raring to go.

“All the other centres are on top of their game. I will be feeling a bit of pressure in that this is (possibly) my last chance to make an impact to try to force my way into the World Cup squad. At the moment, I think the other three centres are probably ahead of me, which is fair enough. I will have to try to turn the tables and try to show something a bit different from what those three can offer.”